“Unfair competition and climate threaten the sector. New rules are needed”, says Anicav. The Association welcomes the adoption of the “Products made with forced labor” Regulation which prohibits the placing on the European market of products made using forced labor.”
The results of a long and difficult tomato processing campaign conducted at the mercy of the unknown climate, the imbalance in the price of the raw material compared to that of other processing countries, the unfair competition from non-European countries that do not respect Italian quality and sustainability standards and, finally, a series of intervention proposals to protect and support the supply chain: these are the main issues addressed during the Public Assembly of ANICAV, held in Parma during the twelfth edition of Il Filo Rosso del Pomodoro, attended by representatives of the institutions and the main players in the tomato processing sector and professional agricultural representation.
“Between strategic infrastructures and protection of Made in Italy is the theme chosen for this day – says Marco Serafini, President of ANICAV – Two topics of great importance and relevance for our sector, also in light of the events that have affected the supply chain in recent years. We ask politicians for answers. We entrepreneurs have the tenacity and optimism to plan and invest even in uncertain times: we only ask to be able to do our job in a context that allows us to operate at our best in a fair comparison and with certain rules. Timely and targeted intervention by the institutions, both at national and European level, is essential to support the competitiveness of the entire industrial tomato supply chain”.
“Within the “Tomato Table” established at MASAF, we asked for clear rules on the marketing in Europe of low-cost tomato products from countries that produce below the minimum thresholds of environmental and social sustainability. – continues Giovanni De Angelis, General Manager of ANICAV – What happened in the last few hours in Great Britain, with a journalistic investigation that casts doubt on the origin of the raw material used for some tomato purees that consumers across the Channel find on the shelves, requires a double reflection. First of all on the methodologies used for this investigation that we do not find to have a scientific basis.
“Our association is working in this direction, precisely to arrive at a shared and certain method to define the origin of the raw material and fight, as we have always done, any attempt at fraud. Then there is the regulatory issue. By nature we are “culturally” in favor of open markets free from duties, however in some extreme cases it may be necessary to implement, at European level, targeted protectionist policies. To this end, we welcome the adoption of the “Products made with forced labor” Regulation which prohibits the placing on the European market of products made using forced labor.”
The proposals that emerged from the discussion among the participants in this important moment of discussion are precise:
Application in Europe of the principle of reciprocity: everyone must have and respect the same rules. Extension to the European level of the rule, already in force in Italy, according to which the passata must be obtained only from fresh tomatoes, with the obligation to report on the label the country and, if the production cycle allows it, also the area where the tomato was grown.
Search for solutions for production efficiency by focusing on varietal research, on the evolution of production techniques and by rethinking the organization and size of agricultural businesses.
Investments in genetic improvement to identify new varieties capable of guaranteeing productivity, resilience and environmental sustainability, without compromising quality.
Rationalization of skills relating to the water system, also through an intervention on water legislation.
Optimization of water infrastructure, in particular construction, in the Emilia area, of the Vetto dam, a work that has been awaited for years to solve the problem of drought in the Val d'Enza between Parma and Reggio Emilia, for the regulation and lamination of rainwater, for the safety of the territory and above all to respond to the water needs of agriculture and industries. Creation, in the central-southern basin, of an infrastructure work connecting the Occhito dam, in the province of Foggia, and the Liscione dam, in the province of Campobasso. This is a connection of a few kilometers that would bring to Puglia an average annual volume estimated at 40-60 million cubic meters of water, which, when the Liscione dam is too full, Molise is forced to pour into the sea, and which would guarantee the water necessary for Puglia farmers.
The 2024 tomato processing campaign
In Italy it closed with a production of 5.3 million tons, slightly down (-2.5%) compared to 2023. Italy confirms itself as the third tomato processing country in the world, after China (which recorded an increase of 31% compared to 2023 and 68% on 2022) and the USA (down 14% on the last campaign). Italy represents 11.8% of world production (equal to 45.8 million tons) and 47.4% of European processed products, with a total turnover that should be around 5.5 billion euros.
Analyzing the consumption data, relating to the retail channel, in the first half of 2024 we recorded a reversal of the trend compared to last year, with a contraction in domestic market shares in terms of volume (- 1.2%) while the value remains almost stable (-0.6%). The biggest decline was in cherry tomatoes, which recorded a decline in both volume (-8%) and value (-4.2%). Negative signs also for whole peeled tomatoes (-3.5% in volume and -3.7% in value) and pulp (-3.4% in volume and -4.2% in value). Passata, which continues to be the best-selling product - in fact, it represents 62.3% of the derivatives market - grew in value (+1.6%) while remaining stable in volume (+0.4%). The trend in Food Service, on the other hand, is different, where, thanks to an ever-increasing attention by catering to the quality of the raw materials used, a substantially growing trend is observed.
The reduction, albeit limited, in domestic consumption was matched by a growth in exports which, in the first half of 2024, increased, compared to the same period in 2023, both in volume (+9%) and in value (+8.93).
Sources: corriereortofrutticolo.it,
